Improvement in spring-bottoms for beds



1. L. BRANSGN & A.

Swing-Bottoms fdr Beds, &c.

2Sheets--S`heet1. 1U ER G ENS.

Patented Oct. 27,1874.

,Witnesses y UNrTEn STATES PATNrfOr-rr nl? JESSE Ii. BRANSON AND AUGUST JUERGENS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENTlN SPRlNG-BOTTOMS FOR BEDS, ce?

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,272, dated October 27,1874; application filed February 12, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JESSE L. BRANsoN and Aueusr JUERGENs, both of Cincinnati,

Ohio, have invented an Improved Metallic Spring-Bottom for Beds, Chairs, and Seats, of which the following is a specification:

Our invention relates to metallic springbottoms for beds, chairs, and seats of all kinds; and -it consists in the combination of spirallybent metal strips with metal straps, as-more particularly hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a spiral spring,secured to a straight one, having loops formed* therein; Fig. 2, a spiral secured by eyes to two opposite strips, whose ends are fastened to a section of a chair, lounge, or seat; Figs. 3 and 4, longitudinal sectional views of the straight strips and their loops or eyes; Figs. 5 and 6, an end view and a plan view of a metal frame, having the coiled springs of three thicknesses.

A is a flat strip or ribbon of metal, bent or wound into a continuous spiral, as seen, the coils of the spring being preferably quite wide apart, though the distance apart will of course' vary, according to circumstances. This strip we connect to a longitudinal metallic strip, B, at as many points of connection as may be necessary. Short parallel slits l 1 are cut in the strip B, and transversely of its length. In these slits are inserted short flat metal pieces or staples 2, bent so as at their end's to lie iiat on the strip B, and at the center so as to form a flat loop to receive and secure a coil of the wire spring A, as seen. This construction allows the spring to be fastened in the act of coiling it, so that each coil may be secured as it in succession is bent from its straight form; or, if the loop be first inserted in the strap B, the strip, which is to form the spiral, may have its end successively threaded through one loop after the other in the act of coiling it; but this can be more easily and uniformly1 done by coiling the wire around a cylinder of suitable size and length, to admit of the proper spacing of the spiral coils. As

each coil is formed at its proper place around the cylinder loops are placed across and underneath the wire in a straight line along the cylinder, with their. ends outward, the coil resting between the points. The longitudinal strips Bare then placed over the loops, and their pointsmade to pass through the slits cut for the purpose, and their ends fastened down on the strip, thus thoroughly inelosing the coil in the staple, and fastening it tol thestrips. The entire spring is` then slipped oif the end of the cylinder, and is ready to be 4 applied.

Another and simpler method of connecting the spring coil to the straight or connecting strap is, by having two short parallel slits cut in this strap, but in the line of its length, as seen at 3 in Fig. 3,theu bending outward the part embraced between the slits, thus forming a fixed loop, and passing one end of the at spring A through these loops successively, thus forming and securing the spring in the desired spiral shape and position.

Y Instead of connecting the continuous coil spring to a single strap, it may vfor some purposes be connected to two such straps placed opposite each other, as shown in Fig. 2, thus affording greater strength and power of resistance; and, also, the better adapting it for uses where the spring may be used either side up, as in cushions, beds, reversible seats, the foot-piece of a folding chair, &c.

It will be seen `that the straps B serve the double purpose, both of holding the coils to their places and also as a bed or rest for the spring, thus dispensing with any other crosspiece or webbing which otherwise would be required for the latter purpose.

When both sides of the spring are to be used for reversible seats, folding beds, lounges, &c., the part of the frame to which the ends of the straps B are to be fastened should be made narrow to allow the ends of the straps tov be brought quite close together, and the straps left equally looseV on both sides, thus forming an ellipse, between which the spring is held. It will be seen that this allows either side to become the bottom or support for the spring, while the opposite side may become the top or spring side, with the strip sufficiently long to allow the spring to be depressed as much as is needed; and it lalso avoids any lrigid or unyielding ridge at the edge of the seat to incommode the sitter, or to cut the outer cover which may be applied to it.

The coil in any and all cases may be made shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and, if desired, such frame may be placed, as seen, o'n both sides of the spirals, or on one side only. v When our spring is to b e used-for a nenlower side may be drawn tight and straight when fastened to the frame, thus forming a hardv and level rest for the spring, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, while the upper strap being left purposely longerand looser serves the purpose of giving greater strength and re- Q sistance to the spring, and at the same time takes the ,place of the twine or cord which 1 would otherwise be requiredfor tying the y springs down to the proper height, and for holding them in place, thus making a much more durable fastening, and at, the ,same time leaving the surface much smoother and even for pliolstering upon.

When two or more spirals are used, we prefer that the coils of next adjacent ones shall interspace each with the other, as seen at e in Figs. 5 and 6. .y

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.-

1. `In' combination, the metal straps and the dat strip or strips spirally bent, and connected to each other by the loops formed in the metal y straps, substantially as shown and described. reversible seat or back-piece, the straps on the 1 2'. Thel combination, with a spirally-bent dat strip or strips, of two metal steadying bars or straps, the bars or straps being placed at op- ;posite sides of the-coiled strip, and fastened 'at each coil to saidsstrip, substantially as shown and described.

JESSE L. BRANSON.

f AUGUST J UERGENS.

Witnesses: v

CHARLES J .WEBEm GUSTAV TAFEL. 

